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The First Day

The first day of the year, the rain is finally gone and the sun is out – a perfect start to the decade, beautiful enough to make one forget economic woes and other bothersome worries.

It seems almost that spring is around the corner instead of the lurking dead of a February winter. The sun’s warmth and the lack of wind calls for open windows that welcome the fresh, crisp air inside.

Lovely poetic post! Here on St. Simons we are about to undergo frigid weather - the natives make a big fuss - thanks for the charming look at blue and white on the patio with the cyclamen pinks against the variegated greens and white so lovely and full of promise.

Beautiful inspiring post. I do see a book in the makings? The images of your garden are so beautiful, I can imagine Spring poking its head through all of the beauty. Thanks for making me take a deep breath.Blessings for 2010. Mary

As i look out my window at the whipping winds, freshly fallen snow and watch a "couple" of cardinals sway on the feeder...I would say... stay out as long as possible and smell the roses and then nestle up in the eve...and reflect...

I do envy you, Joni! I'm looking at your lovely pictures as I sit here watching snow come down - yet again - here on Long Island. What was supposed to be "snow showers" is apparently sticking and starting to accumulate.

Great poetic post Joni. And of course, you know how much I love your backyard! I am oh so jealous of the Houston winters. The snow has blanketed everything here and there is absolutely no sign of plant life to be found, accept of course the evergreens. Soon enough though we'll have tulips and daffodils - that is if those effin' squirrels haven't dug up all of my bulbs! Happy 2010!~

Happy New Year, Joni! Oh what a lovely post! No better way to start the new year than with a post about your lovely home! I love it! Love that beautiful sink area and covet your windows - they're so clean too! :) Your garden is so nice and I love your fountain. I just love a lot, don't I? :) Wishing you the best for 2010!Be a sweetie,Shelia ;)

Lovely post. I always love to see photos of your courtyard and what a surprise to see flowers in bloom right now! We are receiving the second snow fall of the season as I type...spring is a long way off for Boston!

Much needed post since I have been enduring dreary, gloomy, snowy Indiana weather.

I'd love to see you post photos of the exterior of your house to get a sense of how your interior photos relate. I am also anxiously awaiting the continuation of your Top Ten Design Elements list. Then I think you should publish a book with your Top Ten list.

This is why we live in Texas!! While much of the country is frozen and bleak, we are enjoying spectacular winter days. We do have our miserable months for sure, when we suffer through the withering heat, but winter can be absolutely glorious. One of our favorite things to do this season is put a fire in the fire pit in the courtyard at dusk and take a cigar and a glass of cognac outside and just talk forever. The smell of the pinon wood is so cozy. Sometimes it'll even get cold enough to drag a throw from the den outside to wrap around our legs.

Joni, thanks for reminding us to savor these beautiful Texas winter days!

I love the "aged and weathered" look of your brick flooring out there. Such a wonderful place to relax and reflect on the past year and the one ahead. Can't believe you still have roses! Not in Tyler!Brenda

I am coveting that majolica vase! YOu ahve me yearning for Spring as I see your yard and lanterns and shells. But the CYCLAMENS!!!! Oh, to be able to grow them in pots outdoors!!!! This is torture as the winds are HOWLING right now here in Pa.!!!! Happy New Year, Joni and thanks for your blog. It is a "gift I give myself". Pinky

Joni, what a lovely way to start my day. Both your prose and photos are beautiful! I love the first few photographs... just beautiful. Did you get a new camera? If so, may we know what it is? :) It has gorgeous resolution. All the better to see the details in your postings!Where we are it is a bracing -17 degree below zero. Even my darling dog refuses to go outside! So enjoy your lovely weather in TX and I will enjoy it vicariously through you!Happy New Year,Kathy from MN

Cold and gray here and a bit nostalgic that all the children and grandchildren are back to their real lives. As soon as the last decoration is repacked today I will head to the nursery for pots of blooms to create our own glimpse of spring. Happy 2010 to all

JoniAs I said before I know you run on Starbucks, and no sleep the way you keep pumping out these wonderful posts.And I'd do my blogging/reading right in that wicker chair on your back porch. Beautiful to look at those flowers and the rose, as we are freezing here in VA.Thanks for the beauty this morning.And I still haven't figured out when/if you sleep! Amazing.

Joni,How wonderful to find myself again standing at your kitchen sink...one of my favorite places in bloggyland. Just wanted to wish you a happy new year and congrats on the mention "Go-To Blogs" in House Beautiful. I picked up the issue while at the airport in Houston. I hope my voicemail that I left wasn't to intrusive, but from one Texan to another, I just had to say "Howdy"...xo Lisa

Joni, As soon as I started reading and viewing the pictures I took a deep sigh and became so relaxed. I swear you are a natural born writer. You need to write a book!!! Your courtyard looks lovely and welcoming whether it is sunny or wet and cold out,everything looks so lush and inviting. Love the blue and white with the pink, my favorite combination outside. It looks as if you had a day of pondering on the first day of the year and what a pleasand day at that, Hugs Kathysue

Joni,Sweet sentiments for the new year. I too just love being at your kitchen sink...so beautiful and gazing out getting lost in thought.It's a wee bit too cold here in GA to open the windows just yet, but I do love Spring and will be waiting for it to come soon. Blessings to you for the new year, I look forward to seeing where you will take us next!xo

Where did the lovely lantern come from? We live in midwest and are covered in snow!! I love the curtains for Elizabeths room. Have you shared the name of the fabric? We just built a french inspired home and your site has been an amazing resource! Will send photos soon if you would like.

Hi Joni,Beautiful post! I so wish it was warm enough to be outside here on the first...but we are having weather with lows in the 20's right now...awful! I'm soooooo happy each day has a bit more light now...I always think about that on December 21st. :-) Your gardens are soooo lovely...thanks for that little break from Old Man Winter.Susan

Joni,Thank you so much for the email and the comments on my little post. I really appreciate it more than you can know. Yes, my computer is in for repairs. HP is backed up 3 wks. on repairs due to the holidys, yuck! I am using my grandaughter's comp. today. Your post is beautiful and you do have a poetic way with words. Please never stop.love to you,nancy

So jealous that you still can sit outside and enjoy the fresh air- here in Boston is is about 10 degrees and we have LOTS of snow on the ground. Now that the holidays are over its time for Spring to come already :)

Fun post. Love the swan vase. I envy your mild winter/year-round growing. My backyard is buried in four inches of snow...the evergreens are the only sign of life. I do love winter, but for about four weeks, then I'm ready for gardening.

Joni, these pictures are surely from your archives, right? It isn't that beautiful in Tex. now, is it? No wonder Tex. are so proud of their state. I can't believe the flowers, the sunshine, the foliage, your patio. You make me think it may be spring in Tex. Beautiful post. laurie

On my blog I don't know how much you can see of my friend's house where we celebrated New Year's, but you would love it. If you ever come to Dallas, I'll take you there for a tour and also to another friend's turn-of-the-last-century mansion that is a work in progress but to die for.